INT_COM_Pres_A

This article was first published in the January 2016 international edition of Accounting and Business magazine.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2016.

At the end of last year, one of ACCA’s most important regular meetings took place in London. The event was ACCA’s International Assembly, and it brought senior member advocates from around the world together to discuss a range of topics on how to ensure that we in the organisation deliver support and services to you, our members, and that we are equipped to face the challenges that are presented by the global business environment.

International Assembly delegates represent specific countries or regions and provide ACCA with a direct line to what member networks are thinking, what they feel about the ACCA designation, and what they reckon to the direction that ACCA is taking. Their input provides a vital extra dimension to the extensive and ongoing research that ACCA undertakes directly with members, students and other stakeholders. What the International Assembly tells us plays an influential role in helping to develop ACCA’s strategic direction and delivery.

Among the issues the International Assembly considered in its meeting last November (see also page 62) was how we can encourage greater member engagement with ACCA. In this changing world, many professional bodies are facing challenges in building the number of members who are actively engaged in shaping the future of their professional organisation. For example, only around 3% of members voted in ACCA’s last annual general meeting, which took place in September, even though a group of members had put forward a number of thought-provoking resolutions that would have changed the direction that ACCA was taking in a number of important areas if they had won enough votes.

While the number of those voting on what may appear to be internal ACCA issues might not reflect the true level of member engagement, it does give an indication that there is work to do.

It may be that the majority of members are happy with the work we’re doing. It may be that members simply want to qualify, complete their CPD, retain their membership and continue to be successful, and that is all they require of their professional body. But, to be truly representative, we do need to understand what your needs and views are.

The discussions we had at the International Assembly will help to inform work that has already been started by Council. ACCA vice president Leo Lee is leading a taskforce to look into how we can encourage greater engagement.

I look forward to reporting back and showing you how your Council is working to ensure that ACCA not only promotes and represents you, but also ensures that outstanding opportunities are open to you throughout your career.

Alexandra Chin runs her own practice in Sabah, Malaysia